Conciliation Try Develops Into Confrontation

April 26, 1989|By DAVID LERMAN Staff Writer

JAMES CITY (County) — A public attempt to heal wounds between the Board of Supervisors and the School Board Tuesday night quickly turned bitter as supervisors complained of an alleged "flight from the school system" by wealthy families and suggested unhappiness about how the school board is appointed.

The joint encounter, which also included two members of the Williamsburg City Council, marked the first time officials tried to hammer out their differences in public session since last month, when the county charged there is a "public lack of confidence" in the school system and called into question the competence of Superintendent John E. Allen.

FOR THE RECORD - Published correction ran Thursday, April 27, 1989.A story in the Daily Press about a meeting between the James City County Board of Supervisors and the School Board reported that Supervisor Perry M. DePue indirectly criticized two members of the three-member selection committee that appoints county representatives to the School Board. DePue said Wednesday he did not mean to imply that those members make poor appointments, but that they do not consult supervisors about their choices.

Leading the renewed attack, Supervisor Perry M. DePue said of county-school relations, "For some reason the relationship has been an awkward one that can only be improved."

DePue also indirectly criticized the three-member selection committee that appoints county representatives to the school board. He said only one of the three members, whom he did not name, has done a good job in making appointments.

In a particularly bitter exchange that underscored the continuing tension between the two boards, DePue complained the school board does not respond adequately to county inquiries and said, "When you don't even get answers to your questions, what are we to think?"

But in marked contrast to last month's meeting, supervisors refrained from criticizing school officials, notably Allen, in public session. Reflecting the new caution on the part of the county in discussing school personnel, Supervisor Thomas K. Norment Jr. said, "I recognize perhaps the relationships have been strained a little bit."

However, Norment also said there is a "flight from the school system" by families who can afford to send their children to private schools.

"When I see professional educators who are concerned to the point where they're pulling their children out ...it gives me pause," he said.

School board members did not respond to the allegation that many students are leaving the system.

Elliott said he expects all three governing bodies to meet together regularly to discuss school concerns and keep elected officials better informed about school affairs.

"I firmly believe if you all are going to make the statements you're making, you need to learn more about the school system and invest the time in more meetings," Elliott said.

The chairman had invited elected officials to the school board meeting earlier this month, offering to meet in closed session to discuss "personnel concerns." But participants Tuesday night appeared uncertain about the purpose of the encounter and uneasy about how to proceed.

School board member Nolan T. Yelich said he thought much of what needed to be discussed should be done publicly.

"I think a lot of the problems we created in the last few months were created in private," said Yelich, perhaps the most vocal critic on the nine-member school board. "I don't think we're going to solve them in private. I really think the credibility of the school board is at stake. To the extent we've let you down and let this community down that needs to be addressed."

But most participants seemed unwilling or unable to publicly address what they claim to be the "larger issues" of concern in the school system. Instead, much of the 90-minute session was spent bickering about matters such as whether school budget memos were delivered to the county in a timely fashion.

Officials agreed to meet in closed session to discuss the performance of the superintendent. The school board will conduct its annual evaluation of Allen today.

The group also said it would discuss whether the school board should continue to pay Allen's membership dues in the Rotary Club of Williamsburg. City officials had privately urged the school board to stop paying the dues, partly because the club has no blacks and no women.